Masts for sailing vessels



July 18, 1967 D. E. D YER 3,331,348

MASTS FOR SAILING VESSELS Filed April 25, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 18, 1967 D. E. DYER MASTS FOR SAILING VESSELS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1966 United States Patent 3,331,348 MASTS FOR SAILING VESSELS David E. Dyer, Southampton, England, assignor to Ian Proctor Metal Masts Limited, Southampton, England, a British company Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 544,877 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 29, 1965, 18,053/ 65 9 Claims. (Cl. 114-90) This invention relates to the attachment of sails to the masts of sailing vessels, and is concerned with an improved arrangement applicable to the case where a sail, such as a main or mizzen sail, carried abaft the mast, is made fast to the mast, when set, by the engagement of the luff rope of the sail in a groove (normally termed the luff rope groove) which is either formed in the aft face of the mast or in a member carried on that aft face.

In the conventional arrangement, when a luff rope attachment method is used, the luff rope groove extends from an upper point at or near the mast head, to a lower point above deck level but some distance above the attachment point for the boom gooseneck. When setting the sail, the halyard is attached to the head of the sail, the upper end of the luff rope is fed into the lower end of the luff rope groove and the sail is then hoisted to the required height. When lowering the sail, as the luff rope disengages from the luff rope groove, the sail inevitably becomes disengaged from the mast. This can sometimes be a disadvantage particularly in the larger vessels such as cruisers or ocean racers where wind force may tend to make it difficult to the crew to smother a large mainsail once it has become free or partially free from the luff rope groove. This is a difficulty which occurs when changing sails or comming up to moorings in a heavy wind. The object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement whereby the sail can be detached completely from the mast when so desired (e.g. when changing sails), but yet can remain connected to the mast when totally or partially lowered i.e. when the whole or a large part of the luff rope is disengaged from the luff rope groove.

The invention comprises a mast having a luff rope groove, extending from a point at or near the mast head to a point above deck level and some distance above the attachment point for the boom gooseneck, and a slideway within the mast, adjacent the forward wall of the luff rope groove and running for part of its length parallel thereto; the slideway extending from an upper point, which is not, below the lower extremity of the luff rope groove, to a lower point which is below the lower extremity of the luff rope groove but above the attachment for the boom gooseneck, and being adapted to carry slides or travellers attached to, and extending forwardly of the luff rope of the sail; the arrangement being such that on lowering the sail, when the luff rope disengages from the luff rope groove, the sail will remain attached to the lower part of the mast, due to the retention of the slides by the slideway.

Preferably, the slides are attached at intervals to the luff rope of the sail at spaced intervals, e.g. of three to four feet. In most cases the inner slideway will extend from the top of the mast or thereabouts, and in most cases it is desirable for its upper end to be at a considerable distance up the mast, for example, at or near the hounds.

In the case of wooden masts, which are still commonly used in smaller vessels, particularly sailing dinghies, the luff rope groove is usually formed in the wood itself. A mast of this kind may be adapted for use with the present invention by forming an auxiliary groove in the wood forward of the luff rope groove and communicating therewith by a slot. Alternatively, the luff rope groove may be enlarged so as to incorporate a metallic or plastics slide- 3,331,348 Patented July 18, 1967 way within the mast, provided that the mast section is adequate.

The invention is particularly applicable when an extruded section hollow metal mast is used, since in that case the section of the mast may be so designed as to incorporate both the luff rope groove and the slideway.

The invention is also applicable to reinforced plastics masts.

If desired, a metal or reinforced plastics section, may be provided, which incorporates a luff rope groove and a slideway, and which is to be attached to the aft face of a wooden, metal or reinforced plastics mast. This construction has the advantage that if damage occurs to the luff rope groove or the slideway, it can often be rectified by replacing the whole or a part of this section, without having to scrap the entire mast or carry out a complex repair on it.

It will be appreciated that the exact shape of the slides used for the inner slideway will be dependent upon the shape of the track formed by this slideway, which may be male or female. Conveniently, if the slideway is in the form of an undercut rectangular groove, T-shaped slides may be employed with the head of the T engaging the undercut portions of the groove, and the body of the T extending through the narrow slot which communicates with the luff rope groove. At the extreme end of the body of the T the slide can be provided with one or more holes or slots to enable it to be seized to the luff rope. Other shapes of slideway and co-acting slides are within the scope of this invention.

Two embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic side view of part of a mast in accordance with the invention, to illustrate how the sail is attached to it. The sail is shown partly lowered.

FIGURE 2 shows a part section through the metal mast of FIGURE 1, which incorporates an integral luff rope groove and slideway.

FIGURE 3 shows a part section through a wooden mast to which is attached a metal section incorporating a luff rope groove and slideway.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a wooden mast having a luff rope groove and slideway formed in the mast itself; while FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a mast to which is attached a metal section providing a luff rope groove, there being a slideway attached to the inner wall of said groove.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the mast 1 has a luff rope groove 2, in which slides the luff rope 5 attached to the forward edge or luff of the mainsail 6. The lower end of the luff rope groove 2 terminates at 2a, where the luff rope 5 can be seen emerging from the mast section. Some distance below the lower end 2a of the luff rope groove, the gooseneck fitting 30 is attached, carrying the gooseneck or swivel 31 attached in turn to the boom 32. The boom 32 has a foot rope groove 33 formed in its upper surface, to accommodate the foot rope 34 of the mainsail 6.

Formed on the forward wall of the luff rope groove 2, is a slideway 7, which carries several slides 8, which are attached to the luff rope 5 by binding 10.

It will be seen that the slideway 7 extends down the mast beyond the lower end 2a of the luff rope groove 2, and terminates at 7a just above the attachment point of the gooseneck 30.

Thus, when the mainsail is lowered, although the luff rope 5 can come away from the luff rope groove 2, the sail is still attached to the mast by the slides 8 and the slideway 7, and thus is less liable to be caught by the wind and blown out of control of the crew who are securing it.

Referring next to FIGURE 2, the mast 1 is of oval section and the luff rope groove 2 is formed by providing two cheeks 3 having inwardly turned lips 4, within which can slide the luff rope 5 attached to the sail 6. On the after side of the mast, inside the luff rope groove 2, there is integrally formed a T-shaped slideway 7. Slides 8 having holes 9 are carried by the slideway and the luff rope 5 is attached to the slides 8 at intervals by binding 10. It will be seen that in this example the slideway 7 has an external track formed by the head of the T, whilst the slide 8 is shaped to have two internal undercut tracks.

In the example of FIGURE 3, the mast 11 is of wood and a section carrying the luff rope is formed separately as an extrusion, and attached by wood screws 21. The luff rope groove 12 is formed by providing cheeks 13 and lips 14, and the luff rope 15 carrying the sails 16 slides within it. The slideway, in this case, is formed by an internal track 17 having undercut portions 17a within which are carried T-shaped slides 18, each having a hole 19 by means of which the luff rope is attached by binding 20. In this case the slideway has an internal track and the slides an external track.

As was stated hereinabove, the novel luff rope groove and slideway of the invention may be formed in a wooden mast. This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. In said figure, the body of the mast is represented at 30, the luff rope groove is represented at 31, while 32 represents an elliptical space forward of the groove, and communicating with the groove through a relatively narrow mouth between projections 33, 33 adapted to permit easy vertical movement of slides in said elliptical space.

FIG. 5 illustrates the concept of associating a separate track member with the luff rope groove member. In this cross-sectional view the reference numeral 40 leads to the rear side of a portion of the mast 1. The luff rope groove, to be seen at 35, is provided by creeps 36, 36 of the groove member, the inturned but spaced extremities 37, 37 of said creeps providing access to space 35. A separate trackway piece 38 is secured, by conventional fastenings such as rivets 39, 39, to part 40 of the mast. Slides, such as are represented at 8 in FIG. 2, may be run onto said trackway or slideway in the same manner as slides 8 are movable on slideway 7 in FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described are only examples, and that the invention is in no way limited to the particular shapes of luff rope groove slideway and slides which have been specifically described.

In particular, the general shape of the slideway and slides depicted for the hollow mast of FIG. 2 may equally well be used in the metal section of FIG. 3; conversely, the general shape of slideway and slides depicted for the metal section of FIG. 2 may also be used in the hollow mast of FIG. 1.

I claim:

1. For use in a sailing vessel, a mast having an attachment point for a boom gooseneck and incorporating a luff rope groove extending from a point adjacent the head of said mast to a point above deck level and with its lower extremity some distance above said boom attachment point, and a slideway within said mast adjacent the forward wall of said luff rope groove and running, for part of its length, parallel thereto; said slideway extending from an upper point which is at least no lower than said lower extremity of said luff rope groove to a lower point which is below the lower extremity of said luff rope groove but above said boom attachment point, said slideway serving to carry slides attached to, and extending forwardly of a luff rope disposed in said luff rope groove when a sail is set on said mast; the arrangement being such that on lowering such sail, when such luff rope disengages from said luff rope groove said sail remains attached to the lower part of such mast due to the retention of such slides in that part of said slideway which extends below said lower extremity of said luff rope groove.

2. A mast as claimed in claim 1, made from wood, and in which said slideway is an auxiliary groove formed in the wood forward of said luff rope groove and communicating therewith by a slot.

3. A mast as claimed in claim 1, made in the form of a hollow section of metal, which is shaped to incorporate both said luff rope groove and said slideway.

4. A mast as claimed in claim 1 made in the form of a hollow member of reinforced plastics which is shaped to incorporate both said luff rope groove and said slideway.

5. A mast as claimed in claim 1, in which said slideway is a separate track member attached to the forward inside wall of said luff rope groove.

6. An elongated member for attachment to the aft face of a mast of a sailing vessel to extend between the head of such mast and an attachment point for a boom gooseneck said member incorporating a luff rope groove extending from a point adjacent the head of such mast to a point above deck level and with its lower extremity some distance above said boom attachment point, and a slideway within said member adjacent the forward wall of said luff rope groove and running parallel thereto for at least part of its length; said slideway extending from an upper point which is at least no lower than the lower extremity of said luff rope groove to a lower point which is below said lower extremity of said luff rope groove but above said boom attachment point, said slideway serving to carry slides attached to, and extending forwardly of a luff rope disposed in said luff rope groove when a sail is set on said mast; the arrangement being such that on lowering such sail, when such luff rope disengages from said luff rope groove said sail remains attached to the lower part of such mast due to the retention of such slides in that part of the slideway which extends below said lower extremity of said luff rope groove.

7. A member as claimed in claim 6 consisting of a hollow section of metal, which is shaped to incorporate both said luff rope groove and said slideway.

8. A member as claimed in claim 6 made from reinforced plastics.

9. A member for attachment to the aft face of the mast of a sealing vessel to extend between the head of such mast and an attachment point on such mast for a boom gooseneck, said member comprising a length of rigid material having a substantially consistent cross-section throughout, and including two flanges, adapted to fit against the aft face of such mast; said member also incorporating a main groove serving as a luff rope groove and extending from a point at or near that end of such member which is to be its upper end, to a point adjacent but spaced from its other end which is to be its lower end; said other end including a slideway within said member adjacent the inner wall of said main groove and running parallel thereto; said slideway extending from a first point which is at least no lower than the lower extremity of said main groove to a second and lower point which is below said lower extremity of said main groove but above the boom attachment point on said mast, said slideway serving to carry slides attached to, and extending forwardly of a luff rope disposed in said main groove; the arrangement being such that on lowering the sail, when such luff rope disengages from said main groove, the sail remains attached to the lower part of such mast due to the retention of such slides in that part of said slideway which extends below said lower extremity of said main groove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,454,640 11/1948 Eichner 11490 MILTON BUCH-LER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FOR USE IN A SAILING VESSEL, A MAST HAVING AN ATTACHMENT POINT FOR A BOOM GOOSENECK AND INCORPORATING A LUFF ROPE GROOVE EXTENDING FROM A POINT ADJACENT THE HEAD OF SAID MAST TO A POINT ABOVE DECK LEVEL AND WITH ITS LOWER EXTREMITY SOME DISTANCE ABOVE SAID BOTTOM ATTACHMENT POINT, AND A SLIDEWAY WITHIN SAID MAST ADJACENT THE FORWARD WALL OF SAID LUFF ROPE GROOVE AND RUNNING, FOR PART OF ITS LENGTH, PARALLEL THERETO; SAID SLIDEWAY EXTENDING FROM AN UPPER POINT WHICH IS AT LEAST NO LOWER THAN SAID LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID LUFF ROPE GROOVE TO A LOWER POINT WHICH IS BELOW THE LOWER EXTREMITY OF SAID LUFF ROPE GROOVE BUT ABOVE SAID BOOM ATTACHMENT POINT, SAID SLIDEWAY SERVING TO CARRY SLIDES ATTACHED TO, AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF A LUFF ROPE DISPOSED IN SAID LUFF ROPE GROOVE 